Abstract
This paper presents the application of a new methodology for coastal multi-hazard assessment and management in a changing global climate on the state of Djibouti. The methodology termed the Coastal Hazard Wheel (CHW) is developed for worldwide application and is based on a specially designed coastal classification system that incorporates the main static and dynamic parameters determining the characteristics of a coastal environment. The methodology provides information on the hazards of ecosystem disruption, gradual inundation, salt water intrusion, erosion and flooding and can be used to support management decisions at local, regional and national level, in areas with limited access to geophysical data. The assessment for Djibouti applies a geographic information system (GIS) to develop a range of national hazard maps along with relevant hazard statistics and is showcasing the procedure for applying the CHW methodology for national hazard assessments. The assessment shows that the coastline of Djibouti is characterized by extensive stretches with high or very high hazards of ecosystem disruption, mainly related to coral reefs and mangrove forests, while large sections along the coastlines of especially northern and southern Djibouti have high hazard levels for gradual inundation. The hazard of salt water intrusion is moderate along most of Djibouti’s coastline, although groundwater availability is considered to be very sensitive to human ground water extraction. High or very high erosion hazards are associated with Djibouti’s sedimentary plains, estuaries and river mouths, while very high flooding hazards are associated with the dry river mouths.
Highlights
Projected climate change will alter the environmental conditions along most of the world’s coastlines and thereby the livelihoods of the local coastal populations (IPCC, 2014)
This paper presents the application of a new methodology for coastal multi-hazard assessment and management in a changing global climate on the state of Djibouti
Most areas indicated to have a very high hazard of ecosystem disruption are related to the coral reef ecosystems, and these ecosystems extend for a full 50 km stretch of the northernmost part of Djibouti and appear in more fragmented form on the remaining parts of the coastline in locations where physical conditions allow for coral growth
Summary
Projected climate change will alter the environmental conditions along most of the world’s coastlines and thereby the livelihoods of the local coastal populations (IPCC, 2014). According to the IPCC, the utilization of the coast has increased dramatically during the 20th century and this trend will continue during the 21st century, leading to a growth in the global coastal population from the current 1.2 billion to 1.8–5.2 billion by the 2080s depending on migration assumptions (IPCC, 2007a). Identifying climate-related hazards to coastal regions is essential for managing potential hazards in due course, and this is especially a challenge in developing countries where data, expertise and economic resources are limited and coastal populations are growing rapidly.
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